Eyestylist

Music is a powerful influence for artists, painters, and eyewear designers. The beauty, elegance and refinement of music inspire Charmant’s lyrical collection of eyewear (above XL2068). Line Art Charmant is a rare synergy of technological achievement and aesthetic perfection. Each exquisite handmade frame is crafted in Excellence Titan – a material that combines lightness and strength, durability, flexibility, with superb memory function, and is hypoallergenic.

View the video to see close up the perfect combination of contemporary luxury, impeccable design and sophistication in the new Line Art Charmant collection.

The latest designs include streamlined sensuality evident in XL2093 from The Duo Collection, with Swarovski Crystals in subtle monochromatic colourations. Visit www.charmant.com for more exclusive feminine eyewear designs by Line Art Charmant. JG

The twin-spired Cathedral, Museum Ludwig and the Wallraf-Richartz Museum are among the many treasures to be found in the two thousand year old city of Cologne, Germany. Located on the historic Rhine River, the city is a major centre for the Rhineland, with numerous cultural landmarks. This weekend – May 6-7 – Cologne is the landmark destination for creative eyewear by independent designers. The 2017 edition of Die Brillenmesse will be held at Dock One on the banks of the Rhine.

A superb line up of new and established eyewear creators will present their latest optical and sunglass collections. Participants include Götti Switzerland; Lafont Paris; Adrian Marwitz; Orgreen; Andy Wolf Eyewear; Miamai; Von Arkel; Pride Eyewear; Anne et Valentin; and Blackfin among many others. Vintage eyewear specialists Alexander Dosiehn and Christian Metzler will be on hand with items from their fabulous retro collections. In addition, both Saturday and Sunday, there will be Think Tank seminars with informative presentations on marketing, social media, technology and other topics. Die Brillenmesse Köln is the perfect opportunity to view Blackfin’s glamorous summer sunglasses (top image: Oyster Bay), along with their chic optical designs with evocative shapes, and inspiring technology. www.blackfin.eu

Götti Switzerland is presenting several exciting collections with optical and sunglass selections: elegant rimless designs from Götti Perspective, the superbly crafted Götti Dimension –  3D printed eyewear, and lightweight beauties in ultrathin titanium, including Lynn (above). www.gotti.ch

A passion for Cazal eyewear led Alexander Dosiehn to become an avid collector of the German made frames. Doshien recalled: “The more I was into Cazal, the more models I discovered that I couldn’t miss. I guess it’s the same principle for everyone collecting something; the more you dive into it, the more you get addicted. Most of the time it’s the hunt, not the treasure!” www.dosiehn.com

Pride Eyewear launched in 2015 and the Italian brand has already garnered a prestigious Silmo d’Or award. Their latest collection will be presented in Cologne – frames with distinctive shapes, a  unique blend of technologies and materials, and fabulous colours. Crafting eyewear is truly an Italian art form, and all Pride eyewear is handmade in Italy. www.prideeyewear.it

Provocative shapes, materials, and fabulous lenses highlight the Venice based Barberini Eyewear collections. Specialist glass lenses are a Barberini heritage, including the trademark Platinum Glass, available in fantastic colours. www.barberinieyewear.it

Discover for yourself inspirational, glamorous and unusual fashion forward eyewear at Die Brillenmesse Köln May 6-7 at Dock One. More details at www.diebrillenmesse.de JG